Upon discovering that their local municipality was being reclassified from Taranaki to Whanganui, the residents of Whangamomona protested by boldly declaring themselves an independent republic. Since that day, the town has celebrated their independence with a biannual 'republic day', in which a president is elected. In '99, Whangamomona voted in their first ever animal president - a goat by the name of Billy Hircus, aka Gumboots. Gumboots was accused, but not convicted, of eating his opponent's ballot papers.